Yuzuru Hanyu's progress under Orser

Heading into 4CC and Worlds, how do you view Yuzuru Hanyu's coaching change to Brian Orser? What are the good changes and what are not so good? Any surprises? (Technically? Artistically? Skating skills? Posture? Stamina? Choreography? Costumes? Coach-skater relationship? Training environment? Political influence?...)

Heading into 4CC and Worlds, how do you view Yuzuru Hanyu's coaching change to Brian Orser? What are the good changes and what are not so good? Any surprises? (Technically? Artistically? Skating skills? Posture? Stamina? Choreography? Costumes? Coach-skater relationship? Training environment? Political influence?...)

Orser considers Javier the favourite for the OGM, for which he is certainly a contender, as things stand... but I think Hanyu will win Worlds this year. I think technically Orser has helped Hanyu develop speed, consistency, etc. and skating with Javier probably pushes Hanyu to maximize his jump content and continually go for 4S. I'm interested in seeing if Hanyu lands his 4S at 4CC... he's been so close.

Well, I can't say I like his LP costume with the big cross on it, but I have no idea whether his coach or choreographer had anything to do with that? Does anyone else know?

I don't think it is that flattering.

I doubt Orser had any say in his costumes
His mom has always made them for him, and for a few of them (this one, and a couple from when he was little at least) she appears to have gotten inspiration from Johnny Weir's costumes. In particular, this season's FS costume looks very similar to Weir's Ave Maria costume. I don't know if it was her idea or if he asked her to make it like that.
Johnny also designed his free skate costume for his first senior season (2010-2011).

I think that Orser did a great job in defining Yuzuru's strategy. He focused on the short program that always gives him a huge advantage on other skaters, so that he can approach the free skate in a more relaxed way. I don't consider his free as good in terms as his short for transitions and interpretation (or maybe it's just me loving anything Buttle does as a choreographer) but he can really collect technical points even if the quads are not perfect with his amazing triple axels both in the second half of the program

I'm glad to hear that Orser is doing so well in refining the skills of two of the world's best men. Now no one can say that YuNa was a fluke. Obviously Orser is bringing a lot to the table. Does anyone know what his approach is? He sounds like a great strategist. What kind of a technical teacher is he?

Golly, if he ends up with one or two medalists in the next Olympics, skaters will be beating down the doors of Canada to work with him.

I'm not sure I ever knew this, but what was his effect on Christina Gao? I know she left to go to Harvard, but what was her progress while she trained with Brian?

I'm not sure I ever knew this, but what was his effect on Christina Gao? I know she left to go to Harvard, but what was her progress while she trained with Brian?

Not super amazing. She seems to be doing much better with Mark Mitchell & PeterJohansson at Skating Club of Boston. Her axel takeoff has improved, and she skated very well at 3 out of her 4 outings this year, and made the GPF in the 6th place. Considering this is a girl who was sent to Jr. Worlds and didn't medal, that's quite a step.

Like Adam Rippon left Orser and has occasionally landed a 3A with Arutunian and seems happier.

All coaches are more successful with some skaters than others. Brian may be a better shine & polish guy than a basic skills improver, something Rippon & Gao needed, and Yuna Kim didn't need. Or they may just not have gotten along with each other.

Did he really say this? In an interview? I also consider Javier a likely candidate, but I wonder if this was the wisest thing to say as Yuzurus coach.

This was said in person, actually (some time this past fall). I'd mentioned that Yuzuru's a fantastic talent and I think he'll win the Olympics, and he then said that's true but he actually thinks Javier will win. I was expecting him to be diplomatic about it so it was a bit surprising, seeing as how he still coaches both of them, but he was praiseworthy of both and was probably just saying who he thought would win as a general statement. And Javier's technical showings have certainly put weight behind those assertions. I don't think Brian meant it to take sides or create tension... everyone already knows that he coaches two OGM contenders and I'm sure if there was legitimate infighting, one of them would have switched by now. In fact, I think it is helping them push each other, a la V/M and D/W. It also helps that I'd consider Yuzu as more of an artist and Javier to be a strong jumper, and he's very fortunate to coach two wonderful talents (as they are fortunate to have him coaching them).

Well, one thing's for sure: anybody who's worried Yuzuru may have regressed this season from having to train abroad with a new coach can rest easy for now. Yuzuru's had a great season. He kept up the upward trajectory his World bronze promised, broke the short program scoring record, and won the Japanese senior nationals for the first time. Things seem to be working great with this new coaching arrangement!

And a special shoutout to the very fruitful team-up of Yuzuru and Jeffrey Buttle. The short program Buttle crafted for Yuzuru broke all those scoring records and is a stylistic breakthrough for the skater as well. Yuzuru is also the only skater I know of who's doing two jumping passes after the halfway mark in the short program, taking advantage of the new bonus multiplier that's been introduced this season. He earns more points on his jumps in the SP than any other skater this season when he executes, and Yuzuru executes almost every time. Buttle is an ISU judge and probably one of the best COP strategists in the sport. I can't imagine a better client for Buttle's expertise than Yuzuru. Yuzuru is capable of landing those jumps at any point in a program (after all, this is a skater who regularly lands a quad toe/3axel sequence in exhibitions), the flexibility to do a variety of spin positions, and a decent grasp of footwork. In the free skate, where stamina may be more of a problem, especially for the asthmatic Yuzuru, such ambitions may have to be dialed back a bit. But in the SP, Buttle and Yuzuru have free rein to pump out every last point from the COP, and they have.

Thank you jjane45 for this thread!
Now we can talk rationally about the yuzu's achievement this season.I thought it would be more interesting if we have a thread talk about both Hanyu's and Javier's progress under Orser.
Anyway,since I already talked about the good changes on uber thread.Here are some negative thoughts.
Yuzu cann't communicate well with his coach team since he couldn't speak english fluently.He should learn to get over the language barrier asap before sochi.
I want so badly to see his posture improve under wilson's help,it failed me completely.

I think this season is a huge step forward for Yuzuru. While the bronze medal at 2012 Worlds was kind of a surprise, at this moment he really is a top contender.

There is no doubt that he is getting much better training facilities. As a private club without hockey, Cricket provides nearly unlimited ice time (huge contrast to his old rink) and many off-ice choices. Orser arguably also has stronger political influence.

In a recent TV documentary it was mentioned that Yuzuru believes multiple types of quads are needed for him to win, hence the decision to train with Orser. Once in Canada, it turned out Orser pushed for his skating skills the most. (17:25 in the movie) I thought it's very wise as Yuzuru is competing against top PCS guys like Dai and Patrick. Quite curious how much he'll improve in this area going into Sochi.

I am not sure what to say about his stamina. Guess 4CC and Worlds will tell how well Orser's team is managing it. Plus a newly reworked FS.

Originally Posted by Kalina

I doubt Orser had any say in his costumes

That's what I hear too. I liked the SP costume, wonder who picked that one

Originally Posted by Elsa G

Yuzu can't communicate well with his coach team since he couldn't speak english fluently.He should learn to get over the language barrier asap before sochi.

I don't understand why his English is still that bad :( Yes he is physically exhausted all the time but he is so young!!